Woman groped by SDPD cop to get $675,000

SAN DIEGO — The city has reached a tentative $675,000 settlement with a woman who was groped by former San Diego police Officer Anthony Arevalos two years ago during a traffic stop in the Gaslamp Quarter, a City Attorney’s Office spokesman confirmed Friday.

The woman claimed that Arevalos stopped her Oct. 22, 2010, on suspicion of drunken driving and made “personal and crude, sexually suggestive remarks” about her body. He then touched her breasts as she sat in her car with the door open, according to court documents.

Arevalos told the woman he was going to arrest her but that he wouldn’t if she showed him her bare breasts and let him put his hand down her pants. She agreed and was released.

The woman was among several others who testified last year in Arevalos’ criminal trial. U-T San Diego is not naming her because she is a sex crime victim.

A jury convicted Arevalos last November of eight felonies, including sexual battery and asking for a bribe, and four misdemeanors. The 18-year department veteran was fired before the trial began.

The woman filed a claim against the city on Nov. 15, 2011, but the city denied it saying she failed to file within six months of the incident. She then asked to file a late claim, saying that a police detective had advised her to wait until after the criminal case was over.

That request also was denied.

She then filed a complaint in San Diego Superior Court outlining several causes of action, including a petition to file a late claim, false imprisonment, assault and battery, sexual assault, and civil rights violations.

Ultimately, the case settled.

The City Council is expected to discuss during its open session Tuesday authorizing the $675,000 payment, said city attorney spokesman Jonathan Heller.

Issues involving two other women who claim to have been victimized by Arevalos will be discussed in closed session that day.